... After Sessional Address

THE Kufuor Administration spent more than a quarter of a billion cedis (?289,449,000.00) as refreshment for its members and guests, within an hour, on a single day, in celebration over the President's State of the Nation Address.

The refreshment was held, while members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were transported in special buses to Parliament House to cheer their leader there, were virtually famishing at home.

The refreshment was held at the M-PLAZA HOTEL in Accra on February 13, 2003.

According to a letter from the Ministry of Finance, signed by its Chief Director, Mr Paul Ofori-Agyiri, authorizing the payment to the hotel, the amount was to be charged to the Government Non-road Arrears Committed Account.

The address itself called for modesty in Government expenditure.

* Meanwhile, another letter from the same source, signed by Dr A. Akoto Osei, Deputy Minister, authorized the release of six billion cedis ?6,000,000,000) to the Office of the President to enable it clear outstanding debts on the maintenance of the Presidential fleet, including his regional travels, last year.

The amount was to be reallocated from a Special Account, (Service Expenses - Special Operations).

Observers have noted that the President paid only a few regional visits, during last year.

One must only have to multiply the amount, twenty times over, to get nearer the conservative cost of this year's official/political country-wide tour!

Lord have mercy!- See letters on Page 2